Vacuum cleaner handle lock

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner handle lock for releasably retaining the handle in a storage or transport position. The handle is connected to the vacuum cleaner nozzle by a connector defining a latch shoulder. The handle lock includes a mounting portion pivotally mounted to the nozzle, a shoulder portion defining a stop shoulder releasably engaging the latch shoulder of the handle connector, a spring portion biasing the handle lock into engagement with the latch shoulder, and a pedal portion for manipulation by the user to disengage the stop shoulder from the latch shoulder to release the handle when desired. The handle lock is formed as a onepiece element.

Having described the invention, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. In a vacuum cleaner having a nozzle provided with a pivot element defining a pivot axis, and a handle having a connector mounted to said nozzle to swing about a second axis parallel to said pivot axis to and from a storage position, the improvement comprising: means on the connector defining a latch shoulder; and   a one-piece handle lock having a mounting portion pivotally mounted to said element to pivot about said pivot axis, a shoulder portion defining a stop shoulder, and a spring portion defining means for biasing the handle lock to releasably engage said stop shoulder with said latch shoulder and thereby retain said handle releasably in said storage position.   
     
     
       2. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1 wherein said mounting portion comprises a pivot connector pivotally embracing said pivot element. 
     
     
       3. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1 wherein said handle lock further includes a pedal portion adapted to be depressed by the user's foot to swing said stop shoulder away from said latch shoulder and thereby release said handle for movement from said storage position. 
     
     
       4. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1 wherein said mounting portion comprises a pivot connector pivotally embracing said pivot element, said shoulder portion being carried by said pivot connector. 
     
     
       5. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1 wherein said mounting portion comprises a pair of C-shaped pivot connectors pivotally embracing said pivot element. 
     
     
       6. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1 wherein said mounting portion comprises a pair of C-shaped pivot connectors pivotally embracing said pivot element, said shoulder portion defining a pair of stop shoulders one each carried by said connectors, said latch shoulder being engaged concurrently by each of said stop shoulders. 
     
     
       7. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1 wherein said latch shoulder comprises a right angle corner surface and said stop shoulder being complementary thereto. 
     
     
       8. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1 wherein said mounting portion comprises a pair of axially spaced pivot connectors and said spring portion comprises a leaf spring disposed between said pivot connectors. 
     
     
       9. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1 wherein said handle lock further includes a pedal portion adapted to be depressed by the user's foot to swing said stop shoulder away from said latch shoulder and thereby release said handle for movement from said storage position, said latch shoulder further defining camming means for urging the stop shoulder against the biasing action of said spring portion to disengage the stop shoulder from the latch shoulder as an incident of forceful urging of the handle from the storage position in the absence of depression of the pedal portion to release the handle. 
     
     
       10. In a vacuum cleaner having a nozzle provided with a wheel axle defining a pivot axis, a handle having a connector pivotally mounted to said nozzle to swing about a second axis parallel to said axle pivot axis to and from a storage position, the improvement comprising: means on the connector defining a latching notch; and   a one-piece handle lock having a mounting portion pivotally mounted to said axle to pivot about said pivot axis, a pair of spaced shoulder portions defining a pair of stop shoulders, a spring portion between said shoulder portions engaging said nozzle for biasing the handle lock to releasably engage said stop shoulders with said connector in said latching notch and thereby retain said handle releasably in said storage position, and a manipulating portion adapted to be engaged by a user for swinging the shoulder portions away from engagement with said connector against the biasing action of said spring portion, thereby to release said handle for movement away from said storage position.   
     
     
       11. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 10 wherein said handle lock defines a C-shaped configuration, said shoulder portions being defined by the legs of the C-shaped configuration and said manipulating portion being defined by the bight of the C-shaped configuration. 
     
     
       12. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 10 wherein said handle lock defines a C-shaped configuration, said shoulder portions being defined by the legs of the C-shaped configuration and said manipulating portion being defined by the bight of the C-shaped configuration, said spring portion extending from said bight portion intermediate said shoulder portions. 
     
     
       13. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 10 wherein said handle lock defines a C-shaped configuration, said shoulder portions being defined by the legs of the C-shaped configuration and said manipulating portion being defined by the bight of the C-shaped configuration, said spring portion extending from said bight portion intermediate said shoulder portions, and comprising a resilient tongue having a distal end engaging a portion of said nozzle. 
     
     
       14. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 10 wherein said manipulating portion is provided with an irregular engagement surface. 
     
     
       15. In a vacuum cleaner structure having a nozzle provided with a pivot element defining a pivot axis, and a handle having a connector mounted to said nozzle to swing about a second axis parallel to said pivot axis to and from a storage position, the improvement comprising: means on the connector defining a latch shoulder; and   a handle lock having a mounting portion pivotally mounted to said element to pivot about said pivot axis, a shoulder portion defining a stop shoulder, and a spring portion defining means for biasing the handle lock to releasably engage said stop shoulder with said latch shoulder and thereby retain said handle releasably in said storage position, said mounting portion comprising a pair of axially spaced pivot connectors and said spring portion comprising a leaf spring disposed between said pivot connectors.   
     
     
       16. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 15 wherein said pivot element comprises an axle for a wheel member to support said structure and said handle lock retains said axle with respect to said structure. 
     
     
       17. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 15 wherein said handle lock comprises means arranged to be released by forcibly moving said handle relative to said nozzle while holding said nozzle, causing said stop shoulder and shoulder portion to be disengaged without damage to said structure, providing fail-safe operation for said handle lock. 
     
     
       18. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 15 wherein said pivot connectors are joined by a bight portion, and said spring portion extends from said bight portion parallel to said pivot connectors to provide an approximate E-shape for said handle lock.